New temple presidents

Published: May 17, 2014 12:05 a.m.

Six temple presidents and their wives have been called by the First Presidency. They will begin their service later this year.

John Franklin Cotton, 64, La Grange Ward, Crestwood Kentucky Stake, called as president of the Louisville Kentucky Temple, succeeding President Larry V. Lunt. President Cotton’s wife, Robin Lynn Borg Cotton, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Susan C. Lunt. He serves as first counselor in the Louisville Kentucky Temple presidency. He has served in a stake presidency and as a regional Public Affairs director, branch president, senior couple missionary and volunteer assistant temple recorder. A retired manager of air operations, he was born in Marietta, Georgia, to John Lamar and Jeanne Walker Garriss Cotton.

Sister Cotton serves as an assistant to the matron of the Louisville Kentucky Temple. She served with her husband as a senior couple missionary and has also served in a stake Relief Society and Young Women presidency, ward Relief Society presidency, ward Young Women president and ward Primary president. She was born in Ogden, Utah, to Robert Lamar and Barbara Borg.

Glen Orvil Jenson, 74, Dry Canyon Ward, Logan Utah Mount Logan Stake, called as president of the Logan Utah Temple, succeeding President G. Ward Taylor. President Jenson’s wife, Kathylene Howard Jenson, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Lynette R. Taylor. He serves as a sealer in the Logan Utah Temple and as a ward temple preparation teacher. He has served as an Area Seventy, second counselor in the Nauvoo Illinois Temple presidency, stake president and high councilor. A retired professor, he was born in Logan, Utah, to Orvil Monson and Marva Sorensen Jenson.

Sister Jenson serves as a temple preparation teacher and as a temple ordinance worker at the Logan Utah Temple. She has served as an assistant to the matron of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple, counselor in a stake Relief Society presidency, and as a ward Relief Society, Young Women and Primary president, and temple ordinance worker. She was born in Logan, Utah, to Lorin Pack and Lula Andrews Howard.

Blair Philip Pack, 72, Oak Grove Ward, Hattiesburg Mississippi Stake, called as president of the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple, succeeding President Severia Baunchand. President Pack’s wife, Betty Jane Forsyth Pack, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Betty Jean W. Baunchand. He serves as a stake patriarch. He has served as a stake president, bishop, high councilor, regional welfare agent and as a senior couple missionary. A retired Seminaries and Institutes teacher, he was born in Ogden, Utah, to Philip Walker and Jessene McFarland Pack.

Sister Pack serves as ward music chairman, choir director and chorister. She served with her husband as a senior couple missionary. She has also served in a stake Relief Society presidency and as ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president and temple ordinance worker. She was born in Jacksonville, Florida, to Cannie T. and Sadie Belle Forsyth.

Carlos Jesús Somoza Díaz, 67, Madrid 3rd Ward, Madrid Spain West Stake, called as president of the Madrid Spain Temple, succeeding President Donald P. Tenney. President Somoza’s wife, Rosario García González de Somoza, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Terry A. Tenney. He serves as first counselor in the Madrid Spain Temple presidency. He has served as second counselor in the Madrid Spain Temple presidency, stake president, patriarch, bishop and branch president. A retired police sergeant, he was born in Madrid, Spain, to Ramiro Somoza López and Nieves Díaz de Rodríguez.

Sister Somoza serves as an assistant to the matron in the Madrid Spain Temple. She has served as stake and ward Relief Society president and as a stake and ward Young Women president. She was born in Madrid, Spain, to Luis García Lorences and Evarista González Sanz.

William Ray Southwick, 66, Willits Ward, Ukiah California Stake, called as president of the Oakland California Temple, succeeding President Richard C. Crockett. President Southwick’s wife, Lynda Jane Davis Southwick, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Priscilla R. Crockett. He serves as a sealer in the Oakland California Temple and as a Primary teacher. He has served as a first counselor in the Guatemala City Guatemala Temple, stake president, bishop, high councilor and temple ordinance worker. A retired high school teacher, he was born in Ukiah, California, to Wallace Elmer and Gertrude Ethel Rowley Southwick.

Sister Southwick serves as a ward Primary president. She has served as an assistant to the matron of the Guatemala City Guatemala Temple, ward Relief Society president, ward Young Women president, ward Primary president and as a temple ordinance worker. She was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to Billy Hodge and Eva Larue Frye Davis.

Steven James Vore, 65, Odessa 1st Ward, Odessa Texas Stake, called as president of the Lubbock Texas Temple, succeeding President Robert L. Bray. President Vore’s wife, Laurel Dale Pitt Vore, will serve as temple matron, succeeding Sister Maryann S. Bray. He serves as a second counselor in the Lubbock Texas Temple presidency. He has served in a stake presidency and as a bishop, branch president, high councilor and elders quorum president. A retired sales vice president, he was born in Odessa, Texas, to Eugene Middleton and Dorothy Lee Hungate Vore.

Sister Vore serves as an assistant to the matron of the Lubbock Texas Temple. She has served as ward Relief Society and Young Women president, in a ward Primary presidency and as a temple ordinance worker. She was born in Edmonton, Alberta, to Daly Jay and Nell Bridges Pitt Fanning.

The LDS Church News is an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The publication's content supports the doctrines, principles and practices of the Church.